The Present Truth, vol. 15

February 2, 1899

“Muck-Rake or Crown?” The Present Truth 15, 5.

E. J. Waggoner

John Bunyan's allegory of the man with the muck-rake is as much a reality of human life to-day as it ever was. Men, in their eager quest for the glory of this world, which passeth away, are contemning the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 65.1

When Satan tempted Christ with the offer of the kingdoms of this world, he showed Him all the glory of them “in a moment of time.” Doubtless, he feared to prolong the vision lest the Saviour's gaze should penetrate the dazzling exterior and find the wretched reality of woe and misery that lay beneath the surface. Yet, short as the view was, it was more than sufficient to reveal to unworldly eyes all the glory that this world could show. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 65.2

As the time draws near for the fulfilment of the promise that “the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it” (Isaiah 40:5), Satan puts forth every effort to blind the minds of men, “that the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn upon them.” He knows that all who with unveiled face behold “as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory.” It is his settled purpose to hinder men from receiving this preparatory experience, so that when the Saviour comes in His glory, they may be unprepared to meet their God, and “be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from, the glory of His power.” 2 Thessalonians 1:9. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 65.3

This is why we now see such feverish activity in all departments of worldly affairs. Naval and military schemes for increased armaments, dreams of imperial and colonial expansion, enormous combinations of labour and capital, gigantic trusts, colossal frauds of every description, as well as the petty worries that beset the everyday life of men and women, each and all owe their origin to the enemy of the race, whose one design and continual effort is to turn the minds of men from the words of God. In proportion as the glorious day draws nearer will Satan increase his temptations to cause our affections to rest on things below. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 66.1

Every soul on earth is the object of his malignant intentions because to every one, no matter how fallen and degraded, the crown of life is offered freely. To the capitalist as to the meanest drudge in his employ, to the man of world-wide ambition as to the humble lives that count for so little in his grasping schemes, to every one alike, rich and poor, free and bond, great and small, is offered the crown of a never-ending dominion, the key to all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and the passport to scenes of bliss that it hath not entered into the heart of man to conceive. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 66.2

It is true that the muck-heap in which the world is toiling is the witness of their willing degradation, but even out of the horrible pit and miry clay, God will lift those who choose the better part. Men are accepted just as they are, and the shame of their nakedness is hidden in white raiment. “He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory.” 1 Samuel 2:8. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 66.3

We may not know it, and the ignorance makes our plight the worse, but the Lord sees us wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. Our foolish pride may disdain the statement, but it cannot help us to disprove it. To all such, and such are all, the Lord says, “I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear, and anoint thins eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock.” Revelation 3:17-20. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 66.4

“Ministers in Politics” The Present Truth 15, 5.

E. J. Waggoner

Mt. John Morley, in a speech delivered last week, referred to the attitude taken by so many ministers of religion on the subject of war. He said:- PTUK February 2, 1899, page 68.1

They remind me of the fighting bishops and fighting popes of the Middle Ages, who used to go forth in their armour to fight as it they had been more secular men like you and me. One of them put in a formula, and I am bound to say more astonishing language I never read. “We are in a work-a-day world,” one of the ministers said, “and we can hardly be asked to stand aloof from the practical business of life because there are higher laws of religious life which the world is not likely to adopt.” No, nor is the world likely to adopt them when it sees preachers of these laws are dreadfully afraid to apply them in practice. They are not for peace at any price. We cannot afford to stand alone from that practical business of life, but is there no chance of carrying our higher laws into practical business? Suppose one of these ministers were to find himself in the company of the forty thieves. He need not go-judging from the newspapers-a thousand miles from the City of London to find forty thieves. Suppose he were to say: “I am for the Ten Commandments, but still this is a work-a-day world, we must not stand aloof from the practical business of life, and I am not for the Ten Commandments at any price.” You would know what to think of such language, and I say that that, language is the legitimate corollary from the principle what is laid down. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 68.2

It may justly be inferred from this language that when the ministers of religion dabble in politics, the ordinary man of the world is not likely to be smitten with admiration for either their politics or their religion. They may think to gain influence by such a course, but the kind of influence they gain they would be better without. The Word of God is all the power that His servants need in doing His will. “What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord. Is not My Word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” Jeremiah 23:28, 29. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 68.3

“Studies in the Gospel of John. Man's Rightful Authority. John 5:17-27” The Present Truth 15, 5.

E. J. Waggoner

Jesus had just performed a great miracle. A man who for thirty-eight years had been unable to walk, had been instantly healed, insomuch that at the command of Jesus he arose, took up the pallet on which he had been lying, and walked. “And on the same day was the Sabbath.” John 5:9. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 68.4

“Therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath day.” Verse 16. Of course Jesus well knew that they would do this. Why then did He perform that special miracle on the Sabbath that day? The man was not in imminent danger of death. After thirty-eight years waiting, one more day would not have been so intolerable. For that matter, Jesus might doubtless have done the deed the day before as well as not; for the man had been long lying by the pool, and Jesus could not have failed to see him. Did Jesus wish to irritate the Jews, and deliberately to defy their prejudices? It is impossible to harbour such a suggestion for a moment, for it is utterly foreign to His character. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 68.5

TRUE SABBATH OBSERVANCE

Why, then, was this miracle of healing, like so many others that are expressly mentioned, performed on the Sabbath day?-Because Jesus would show the true object and meaning of the Sabbath. He would show that it is for man, and not against him,-that it is not a burdensome yoke, but a lifter of burdens. He would teach us that the Sabbath, as the memorial of God's perfect and complete work, makes known the measure of God's power to make both soul and body “every whit whole.” PTUK February 2, 1899, page 68.6

When the Jews persecuted Jesus for the good deed done to the impotent man, He justified Himself by saying, “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” That was a real justification of His act, for to do that which God does is the most perfect righteousness. Moreover, the acts of Jesus were not simply copies of what the Father did; if they were, then there would be in them no lessons or help for us, for it would show no connection between Him and frail human beings. But He said, “I do nothing of Myself;” “but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works.” John 8:28; 14:10. There is no man so weak that he cannot let God work in him to will and to do of His good pleasure. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 68.7

Jesus was accused of violating the Sabbath, and He did indeed break the Jewish Sabbath, but not the Sabbath of the Lord. The Jewish Sabbath consisted in formal cessation of all labour on the seventh day of the week, even though human life was lost thereby. It was simply a yoke, a burden, an act of penance by which they thought, to make themselves righteous. It had nothing in common with the Sabbath of the Lord except that it was kept on the same day of the week. The Lord's Sabbath is absolute rest in Him and His word,-dependence on His life; and since His life is activity,-service for others,-it follows that true Sabbath-keeping may sometimes involve severe physical labour. How can one tell what works are lawful on the Sabbath day, and what are not?-No list of lawful and unlawful works can be given, but this principle will guide whatever labour is necessary for the welfare of suffering humanity, whether the disease be of body or of soul, and from which the labourer derives absolutely no profit or benefit except the consciousness of God's presence, is proper Sabbath labour. True Sabbath keeping is rest in God,-absolute and unqualified acceptance of His word. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 68.8

“My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” How does God work, and how had Jesus done the work for which He was now persecuted?-By His word. Mark this: it was not as a man works by giving orders to another. No man may flatter himself that he is keeping the Sabbath while others are labouring in his employ. Whosoever does a thing by another does it himself. It is not the way that God works, and it was not in that way that Jesus healed the impotent man. He did not speak the word which set somebody else to work, but His word itself did the work. “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.” “He spake, and it was.” Psalm 33:6, 9. This miracle of Jesus was therefore simply a manifestation of the creative power of God's word. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 69.1

In six days God created the heavens and the earth; and then He rested on the seventh day, not because to have continued the work of creation would have been a sin, but for the good reason that it was all done. The word, however, continued to work in upholding that which it had created. All the works of God since that time (so far at least as this earth is concerned) are simply to uphold or to restore, and the works which He does for us and through us are to the same effect. Keeping the Sabbath of the Lord is simply the absolute resting in God's finished work, and allowing Him to put them into us. The absolute ceasing from all our own works on the seventh day,-from everything by which we may get gain,-is an indication of our trust in God for “life, and breath, and all things.” If one dare not trust God to keep him if he should rest on what is to all the world (and even the greater part of the professed Christian world,) the busiest day of the week, how can he persuade himself that he is trusting for eternity? PTUK February 2, 1899, page 69.2

RIGHT AND AUTHORITY OF A SON

“The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do; for what things soever the Father doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth Him all things that Himself doeth; and He will show Him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom He will. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son; that all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father.” John 5:19-23. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 69.3

Every son is necessarily the heir of his father. Legislation, knavery, the caprice of the father, or something else, may exclude a son from any share in the father's property; but nothing can deprive any child that is born into the world of his essential heirship, namely, the parents’ individual characteristics. The father bestows himself, whatever he may be, upon his son, and this is the son's essential heirship. Even so Christ is “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15), “the brightness of His glory.” Hebrews 1:3. Humanity is imperfect, and can therefore only imperfectly reproduce itself, so that a son may be vastly inferior to his father in many or in all respects; but God, whose every way is perfect, reveals every perfection of His character in His Son-“the Beginning of His way.” Therefore the only-begotten Son has by birthright the power and authority of the Father. Therefore it is that all judgment is committed to Him. To Him it is given to rule the nations, and at the last to break them in pieces like a potter's vessel; but this power is not arbitrarily bestowed; it is simply one phase of the working of the “power over all flesh” which Christ has in Himself, and which He uses for the salvation of mankind. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 69.4

“For as the Father hath life in Himself, so hath He given Him authority to execute judgment also; because He is the Son of man.” John 5:26, 27. How different that is from what we would have written. We would have said that the Father hath given the Son authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of God; but no, the reason is that He is the Son of man. This brings us face to face with the rightful place of man on this earth. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 69.5

By virtue of the first creation, man is the son of God. Luke 3:38. As such authority over all the earth was given him. Remember that this authority was given him in creation. He was made a king. The authority was in him. Just as the magnet is not a magnet because men agree to call it so, but because it has in itself drawing power, so man was king by virtue of what was in him, namely, the life of God. He had dominion over the beasts, the birds, the fishes, and over the earth itself. These did not obey Him because they had agreed to, or were told to, but because he had the authority that they could not help recognising and yielding to. Everything was placed in subjection to man, and remained so as long as man was in subjection to God. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 69.6

Man's first dominion was one of glory, for he was “crowned with glory and honour” when he was placed over the works of God's hands. Hebrews 2:7. But “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 2:23. Consequently the dominion has been lost. Man is no longer king by nature, because he does not have kingly power in him. Now comes Christ in human flesh, made in all things like unto His brethren (Hebrews 2:17), tasting death for every man, and crowned with glory and honour. He “was made of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” Romans 1:3, 4. So through Jesus the dominion of the earth still remains in the hands of man; for it must be remembered that Jesus came to earth as man, to win back the dominion for man. God never lost the dominion, or any part of it. Christ did not need to come to earth to get the dominion of the earth, and authority to execute judgment, for Himself as God, for that he had; but it was that the dominion given to man might be perpetuated. Therefore it is that Christ was on earth as man in every respect. He represented God to man, that God might in Him exhibit His idea of a man. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 69.7

The one who rules is the one to judge. Man is rightful lord of this earth, and therefore he is the one to whom judgment is necessarily committed. “The saints shall judge the world.” 1 Corinthians 6:2. “Let the saints be joyful in glory! let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand; to execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute upon them the judgment written; this honour have all His saints.” Psalm 149:5-9. But they have this power only when as sons of men they are also sons of God. In Christ, through the eternal Spirit, we become the sons of God as surely as we are now the sons of our parents, and are heirs of His goodness as surely as we by nature inherit the traits of our earthly fathers. Through the exceeding, great and precious promises of God we become “partakers of the Divine nature.” 2 Peter 1:3. “As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12, 13. Thus are we joint-heirs with Jesus Christ, having rights and privileges with Him. In Him we become “one new man,” created in the Divine image. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 69.8

And now that we see it for a fact that “as He is so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17), we may grasp something of the significance of the wonderful works that He did. Remember that Christ, the Son of God, became the Son of man, in order that we, the sons of man, might become the sons of God. He was made in all things like unto us, that we might become in all things like unto Him. Now read again: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do; for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth Him all things that Himself doeth; and He will show Him greater works than those, that ye may marvel.” John 5:19, 20. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 70.1

What does this mean to us?-Everything. It is a part of our inheritance. If we are “in Him,” sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, called by His name, and walking worthy of the calling, then as joint heirs with him, sharers of His glory and dominion, we way know that all this applies to us the same as to Jesus of Nazareth. “But we are so weak and helpless,” you say. Very well, it is impossible to be more helpless than to be able to do nothing of one's own self. See verses 19, 30. Jesus does the things that He sees the Father do, not by Himself as a copyist, but by the Father dwelling in Him. To us He says, “All things that I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you” (John 15:12), and “He that beIieveth in Me, the works that I do shall he do also.” John 11:12. Don't take counsel of past experience, and say that it is too much to believe, and impossible, but take counsel of the Spirit, who alone makes known the riches of the glory of the inheritance. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 70.2

Jesus of Nazareth was “a man approved of God” “by miracles and wonders and signs which God did by Him.” Acts 2:32. Wondrous things He did for man, and even greater works were to be done. So to us He says that, believing, we shall do the works that He did, and greater also. What an unspeakable gift! What an incentive to yield ourselves to Him, to be perfectly cleansed from all taint of the curse, and made “complete in Him,” “a perfect man,” even up to “the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” What! poor fallen mortals to have power to heal the sick and the lame, and to cast out devils with a word? Even so, for so it is written, and so it shall be, even as it has already been. Not one only, but every believer in Christ, must have this authority. Don't try to understand it, but believe it and accept it; for what the eye hath not seen, nor the ear heard, and what have not entered into the heart of man, namely, the things which God hath prepared for those that love Him,-those things hath God revealed unto us by His Holy Spirit; for the Spirit searcheth all things, even the deep things of God, and is freely bestowed on us that we may know the things that are freely given to us of God. “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.” PTUK February 2, 1899, page 70.3

“The Cost of War” The Present Truth 15, 5.

E. J. Waggoner

It is estimated that over 5,000,000 men and ?3,047,000,000 have been lost by war during the past century. The greatest loss was 1,900,000 men and ?1,250,000,000 by the war between France and England in 1793-1815. The most costly war, however, was the United States civil war, 1863-65, which swallowed ?740,000,000 in little over two years-or about ?300,000,000 a year, whereas the war already mentioned cost only ?60,000,000 a year. The Franco-German War, 1870-71, cost ?316,000,000, and that engaged in by Britain, France, and Russia in 1854-56, ?305,000,000. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 74.1

“Little Folks. The Gospel of the Spring” The Present Truth 15, 5.

E. J. Waggoner

Some one has said that “the Book of Nature, like the Holy Word, has four gospels,-the gospel according to the Spring, the gospel according to the Summer, the gospel according to the Autumn, and the Gospel according to the Winter,-each proclaiming the goodness and wisdom and love of God.” PTUK February 2, 1899, page 74.2

There is really only one Gospel, the “good tidings of great joy,” that “unto us is born a Saviour which is Christ the Lord.” Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all tell us the same good news of Jesus who “shall save His people from their sins.” PTUK February 2, 1899, page 74.3

Paul tells us that the Gospel of Christ is “the power of God unto salvation.” And this is just what we may read in all nature. The four seasons,-Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter,-are in different ways all telling us the same Gospel. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 74.4

Think what “good tidings of great joy” the first spring-time must have brought to Adam and Eve! How sadly they must have watched the fading flowers and falling leaves of autumn, and mourned over their sin which had brought death and desolation over the face of the fair earth. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 74.5

But at last, at God's appointed time, a change came. The leafless, and seemingly lifeless trees burst forth afresh into bud and leaf and bloom, the earth was covered again with its flowery carpet, and their wondering eyes could see life,-now life everywhere springing forth from the deathlike sleep of winter. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 74.6

Oh, what hope and joy and courage this must have brought to them. The winter had taught them that “the wages of sin is death,” and shown them something of what death is. The spring brought the bright hope of the resurrection from the dead, through the promised Saviour, who has power over death. For it was His life that they could see springing from the dead in all the living things around them. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 74.7

But for this, the winter would have been death indeed; there never would have been any more leaves on the hare trees, no more fresh flowers springing from the barren ground. So the seeming death of winter, followed by the new life of the spring, teaches us that through the power of the life of Jesus PTUK February 2, 1899, page 74.8

“Death is hallowed into sleep,
And every grave becomes a bed.” PTUK February 2, 1899, page 74.9

Now that the winter is passing, and the bright spring-time coming on, ask Jesus to anoint your eyes and open your ears, so that you may see and hear the message of salvation that He is giving you in this glad season. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 74.10

You may read it in the trees, which have stood through all the winter season, the very image of death. The leaves are the lungs of the tree, through which is breathes. When the leaves are all gone the trees stop breathing; the sap, which is the life-blood of the trees, does not flow any longer, and there is no sign of life remaining. But the trees and plants are not dead, only sleeping and soon they burst forth into life and beauty, all the ore fresh and vigorous for their long rest. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 74.11

You may read the Gospel in which in the seeds, which in the early spring-time you bury out of sight in the cold, dark ground, while you wait in hope and confidence that at the right time they will spring up and bloom. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 74.12

“O to awake from death's short sleep
Like the flowers from their wintry grave,
And to rise all-glorious, in the day
When Christ shall come to save.” PTUK February 2, 1899, page 74.13

But you need not wait until Jesus comes, to know the power of His life in you. He wants you to know every day the power of His life to overcome sin, which is death, and to fill you with His own righteousness, which is life. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 74.14

You may read this same Gospel also in the pretty moths and gay butterflies that after their long chrysalis sleep through the winter, will soon be flitting about full of joyous life; and in many other things that, we cannot speak of now. But while this short season lasts, learn all you can of the “good tidings” that it brings, and we will try to study together a few chapters of “the gospel of the Spring.” PTUK February 2, 1899, page 74.15

“Jottings” The Present Truth 15, 5.

E. J. Waggoner

-In Germany the idea of a disarmament conference meets with very little favour. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 78.1

-The English Zionist Federation has been organised for the purpose of settling in Palestine persecuted Jews from all countries. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 78.2

-The total receipts from the Hospital Saturday Fund for last year were ?19,888 9s. 4d., as against ?20,007 12s. 7d. collected in 1897. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 78.3

-An earthquake, lasting three minutes, is reported from Mexico, which seriously damaged over 200 buildings, and injured 100 persons. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 78.4

-Owing to the mildness of the season fifty-two different flowers were picked in Monmouth. Roses and wallflowers are blooming in the suburbs of London. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 78.5

-The baya bird of India has the curious habit of fastening fireflies to its nest with moist clay. On a dark night such a nest aught be taken for an electric street lamp. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 78.6

-Earthquake shocks occurred in Greece. Houses were much damaged in some towns, but the people having received due warning, escaped to the fields without injury. Whole villages were destroyed. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 78.7

-Dr. Posch, a Vienna physician who has made a special study of the plague, in the course of a lecture said the use of alcoholic drinks by Europeans diminishes the faculty of resistance to most of the infectious diseases, especially plague. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 78.8

-The gold discoveries in Western Australia have caused a rapid growth in that Colony. The population in 1891 was 53,000, while now it is 172,000. In 1891 the yearly revenue was ?400,000. Last year it was ?3,000,000. Exports and imports in 1893 were valued at ?2,412,000. In 1897 they had risen to ?10,368,000. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 78.9

-The Japanese dentists perform all their operations in tooth-drawing with the thumb and forefinger of one hand. The skill necessary to do this is acquired only after long practice, but when once it is obtained the operator is able to extract half-a-dozen teeth in about thirty seconds without once removing his fingers from the patient's mouth. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 78.10

-The number of Spanish soldiers who died during the recent war in Cuba amounts to 80,000. The majority succumbed to diseases contracted in the country. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 78.11

-Pupils in the public school of Copenhagen Denmark, are requited to take three baths a week in the public school building, and while they are bathing, their clothes are sterilised in a steam oven. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 78.12

-Whatever may come of the present agitation in Macedonia, it is clear that Russia intends to intervene. It has been announced that she regards the movement as one of a revolutionary character, and intends to crush it. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 78.13

-Mr. A. J. Balfour, replying to a correspondent on the subject of providing a Roman Catholic University for Ireland, thinks the best plan will be to provide a Protestant teaching university in Belfast, and one for the Roman Catholics in Dublin. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 78.14

-Lord Cranborne said the other day that Volunteers must be prepared for changes and developments which might not perhaps be popular, but which would be actuated by motives to bring the auxiliary forties up to a greater standard of efficiency. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 78.15

-The hopes of Chinese reformers have once more been dashed to the ground. One of the governors who recently petitioned the throne for some administrative reforms has, for this offence, been stripped from all office and debarred from future employment. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 78.16

-From St. Petersburg it is reported that the health of the Amer of Afghanistan is causing uneasiness, as civil war is expected to follow his death. Steps are to be taken to strengthen the position of Russia on the Afghan frontier by the establishment of military settlements. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 78.17

-It is said in some quarters that France and England are about to settle all outstanding differences by means of a treaty which will be of the highest historic importance. This remains to be seen. Certainly, speeches made by statesmen of both countries have been very conciliatory in tone of late. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 78.18

-The United States Senate has adopted a Bill providing for the construction of the Nicaragua Canal. 1,000,000 shares, of $100.00 each, the Government taking 926,000, will be issued. The canal is to be constructed in six years and the coatis not to exceed 6115,000,000. It is proposed to offer bee passage at all times to the ships of all nations, in peace as well as in war. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 78.19

-The rivers Wye and Monnow have overflowed their banks, and several of the principal streets of Monmouth have been rendered impassable by the floods, except by boats, which have been requisitioned for traffic. The railway from Ross to Monmouth is under water, and all trains on that section have ceased to run. The flood is the heaviest known since 1851. Most of the valleys in North Wales have been turned into huge lakes. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 78.20

-The Russian ship-building programme does not savour of disarmament. Two steamships for the Volunteer Fleet are to be built in England at a cost of 4,000,000 roubles. Two first-class iron clads, a first-class cruiser and three other cruisers, with two torpedo boats, are to be completed this year. Next year twenty-four torpedo boats are to be constructed, and three first-class ironclads and two cruisers are to be commenced. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 78.21

-Gas consumers north of the Thames are agitating against the payment of 3s. per 1,000 cubic feet for their gas, because the change is twenty-five per cent. less than this on the south side of the river. At Plymouth, which is twice as far from the source of its coal supply as London is, the price for gas has been only 1s. 9d. per 1,000 feet for the last dozen years, and at this price the highest dividends allowed by the law have been uniformly paid by the shareholders. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 78.22

“Back Page” The Present Truth 15, 5.

E. J. Waggoner

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 80.1

Is it an unqualified command, and it is a command just as surely as are the words, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” PTUK February 2, 1899, page 80.2

“It is a very difficult commandment to obey,” do you say? No: “His commandments are not grievous.” It is impossible, however, to obey any commandment of God, when it is regarded from the human side, merely as a commandment; we must know it as a promise, and then it becomes a delight. Obedience to the commandment, “In everything give thanks,” not only brings, but is the highest happiness that human hearts can know. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 80.3

What have we to be thankful for?-Everything. Listen: “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Romans 8:32. Now the very thought of God's free gift must awaken love, “and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God.” Since God cannot but give us all things in Christ, and in Him all things are for our good, how can we be otherwise than thankful in everything? PTUK February 2, 1899, page 80.4

“How can I be thankful when I know that I am a sinner, and that I am lost?” Easily enough, when you know that “the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10. If you feel lost, that should remind you that the Lord Jesus Christ is good at finding. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 80.5

“Ah, but you don't know how great a sinner I am; you would feel depressed if you felt yourself to be the greatest sinner in the world.” PTUK February 2, 1899, page 80.6

Not by any means; so much the more for joy. “Faithful is the saying, of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief; howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me as chief might Jesus Christ show forth all longsuffering.” 1 Timothy 1:15, 16, R.V. “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” Romans 5:20. The greater the sin, the greater the saving grace bestowed. Then thank God. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 80.7

“But I have so many temptations; how can I give thanks in the midst of them?” PTUK February 2, 1899, page 80.8

“My brethren, count it all joy, when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:2-4. How can one help being thankful for that which makes him perfect, and brings him everything good? PTUK February 2, 1899, page 80.9

“Oh, but I have more trials and trouble than anybody else in the world.” PTUK February 2, 1899, page 80.10

Good! then you have more to be thankful for than anybody else in the world; for have you never read: “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-5. The greater the trial, the greater the comfort. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 80.11

“I am so very poor and needy, I lack everything; how can I give thanks?” Your great need should simply remind you of the promise, “My God shall supply all your need, according to His riches in glory.” Philippians 4:19. The more needy you are, the more you get. “I am poor and needy, yet the Lord thinketh upon, me.” Psalm 40:17. “Hearken, my beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the, kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him?” James 2:5. Your poverty is your wealth. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 80.12

“But I am so vacillating, so easily swayed; the slightest breath moves me, and I cannot stand.” PTUK February 2, 1899, page 80.13

Then thank God doubly for that, “because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4); and if you are so easily swayed by the Holy Spirit. Only let the breath of Christ blow upon you, and it will always carry you in the right direction with the force of “a rushing mighty wind.” PTUK February 2, 1899, page 80.14

The fact is, Christ has so completely identified Himself with humanity, that there is not any circumstance in life, no condition of the soul or body, no need or frailty, that does not in itself suggest the fullness of God in Him. Whatever poverty or temptation or suffering we have, whether as the direct result of our own folly, or from causes of which we are not personally responsible, we may know that they are the sufferings of Christ, and find the joy of deliverance in the knowledge. “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.” PTUK February 2, 1899, page 80.15

“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much,” James 5:16. It seems to a great many that these words drive off the thought of effectual prayer further than ever, for they would not presume to say that they were righteous. But how does anyone become righteous? “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.” Titus 3:5. “Being justified freely by His grace,” we obtain righteousness, “even the righteous of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe.” Romans 3:22. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 80.16

Therefore the man who is righteous becomes so by believing the glad tidings which God declares to all, “concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” He has learned how to take what God gives, and having learned how to take the greatest gift of all, he knows how simple a matter it is to receive all things else. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 80.17

For to the man who receives Jesus Christ, everything else is given. It can not be otherwise. “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things”? Romans 8:32. And Jesus, speaking of food and drink and clothing, says, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33. PTUK February 2, 1899, page 80.18

“God does not force allegiance. He waits for it. The crown of our own individual love and loyalty must be offered by our own hands.” PTUK February 2, 1899, page 80.19